Lady Gaga Talks Super Bowl Anthem: 'I Just Sang From My Heart'

Lady Gaga was universally lauded for her stirring, soaring rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” to kick off Super Bowl 50. Following her acclaimed performance, Gaga spoke about her mindset going into the National Anthem. “I just thought about the lyrics and what they really mean,” Gaga told Extra. They’ve been around a long time, so I thought about what they mean now, I just sang from my heart.”

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“It was really amazing, the athletes were just kind of majestic standing up there, singing for the fans in the stands and all over the world, it was so cool,” Gaga added of performing in front of a sold-out Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara as well as an American television audience of nearly 112 million. “It’s kind of ancient history stuff, in the Greek and Roman history, performing for the greatest athletics in the world is the highest honor. I’m Italian and European, so for me it was such an honor as an American.”

Gaga also said that she made an effort to take notice of the fighter jets that soared overhead as the National Anthem closed out. “I promised myself I was going to look up to see them, because that would be the only time,” Gaga said.

The Artpop singer will be back in front of a television audience of millions next week when she leads the Grammy’s David Bowie tribute on February 15th.